Probably my worse night of illness, in a deep fever and wet with perspiration worrying about pneumonia taking hold with a bad cold adding to my discomfort whilst being prostrate and unable to leave my bed as the Philippine crisis deepens with the Army rebelling against Marcos and taking over the army and police HQ’s and Cory Aquino and her supporters hiding from repression but the Catholic church and civilians form a human wall to protect them from shelling
A very poor night. First my temperature rose to 102degF as I grew hotter during the evening and then, with Diana sleeping downstairs to avoid me, I woke at 1.00am to find my pyjama jacket actually wringing wet with perspiration. I found another and settled myself down, but was cowering in early morning, curled up and shivering until I eventually knocked up Diana to get me some fresh hot water bottles. Strange to see how I have been affected by this illness – it seems about a week since I was stricken with the urinary tract infection and I am as bad as ever.
But the symptoms have changed, as my aching tummy and back have subsided, urinating is easier, and I think that a bad cold is taking its place. Either way, with the possible exception of my acute appendicitis attack as a small boy, this is the worst illness I have ever suffered and I wonder how and when it will improve and hope it will not turn to pneumonia. A morning and afternoon prostrate, but with fever nearer 100 than 102, but it rose again later in the day. I could not finish reading my paper today and could not get comfortable. Nor could I even start my journal, which I feared would get behind. In the end, by different tactic, I lay with less bedclothes, no dressing gown and in a warm room, so as to avoid too much closeting and in this way survived the rest of the day and night. Another very cold frost by night and near freezing scene by day, as the bitterly cold easterly winds drive relentlessly through the flat and exposed landscape of Fenland. Main news is of the Philippines, where the Defence Minister and Chief (designate) of the Armed Forces rebel against Marcos and occupy the police station and forces HQ in Manilla. Encouraged by the Catholic Bishops, a human and civilian wall of Aquino supporters start gathering to form a screen to prevent artillery assault. So far Marcos does not act and Mrs Cory Aquino is in hiding with her supporting politicians as Marcos planned to arrest them. The BL row rolls on and, with a senior committee of Cabinet due to review the matter, it seems BL deadlines of the 4th March might be flexible to give chances to Management Buyout proposals for both the Land Rover and Truck Division. A Jersey-based, Libenan-registered coastal craft, with a crew carrying British passports is intercepted by the French navy and questioned on gun running. More worry over Sellafield.